(U2) The Revolutions Of February And October 1917 Flashcards
1
Q
Explain the effect WWI had on the Russian economy with regards to:
Food supplies (4)
A
- requisitioning reduced agricultural output —> horses and fertilizers taken for war
- sales of food became unprofitable (due to inflation), farmers stopped selling grain
- hunger began to border famine
- Petrograd by 1917 had to ration bread and received less than 1/4 of the bread in 1914
2
Q
Explain the effect WWI had on the Russian economy with regards to:
Inflation (2)
A
- spending rose from 4m to 30m roubles
- to fund this, the gold standard was abandoned and more notes were printed —> causing inflation to rise
3
Q
Explain the effect WWI had on the Russian economy with regards to:
Transport (4)
A
Transport:
- the rail system was mechanically inefficient and was not fit for war
- by 1916 it verged on collapse
- food transport cut: 1914 - Moscow received 2,200 wagons of food per month
- by 1917 this fell to only 700 per month
4
Q
What key issue hampered the Russian army on the frontlines in WWI?
A
Equipment shortages:
- Despite being the largest military in Europe, equipment didn’t reach the frontlines
- Russian expenditure was high, however poor planning around transport prevented equipment reaching troops
5
Q
What move by Tsar Nicholas II in WWI grew criticism against him?
When and why did this cause criticism?
A
- August 1915: Tsar becomes commander in chief of the army
- he was now accountable for any military failures
6
Q
How did low morale in the military become evident?
What does this suggest? (Russia WWI)
A
- Numbers of caught deserters grew: 195,130 deserters in March 1917 to 365,137 in August 1917
- the army knew they could not win the war
can round numbers if you want
7
Q
Who led Russia prior to the February 1917 revolution?
A
Tsar Nicholas II
8
Q
Upon the Tsar changing his role, who did the Tsar leave in charge of government?
A
The Tsarina and Rasputin
9
Q
What is a soviet?
A
A soldier’s or worker’s council
10
Q
Upon the Duma being recalled in July 1915, what key mistake did the Tsar make?
What did this cause?
A
- He didn’t co-operate with the zemstva and the union of municipal councils
- this furthered political opposition to the Tsar
11
Q
Which political coalition formed in opposition to the Tsar in August 1915?
Who was part of it? (4)
A
- the Progressive Bloc
- the Kadets
- the Octobrists
- Nationalists and
- progressive industrialists
12
Q
Why did the Progressive Bloc become direct opponents of the Tsar?
A
The Tsar failed to grant reforms they pledged
13
Q
Between 1915 and 1916, how many PMs did Russia have?
What does this highlight?
A
- 4
- political chaos
14
Q
Why did the role of Rasputin create opposition to the Tsarina and the Tsar?
Why was this a problem?
A
- He was unpopular with the aristocracy
- the aristocracy were a key pillar of the Tsarist regime - alienating them risked losing their support
15
Q
What effect did the high turnover of ministers (under the Tsarina) have on members of the Duma?
A
Discontent grew - members felt their demands were not taken seriously
16
Q
Upon coming back to Petrograd, what mistakes did the Tsar make with regards to the Duma?
Give evidence of this.
What effect did this have?
A
- He refused to listen to concerns raised by the Duma
- seen through dissolution of Duma Feb 27th 1917
- this only led to further discontent and opposition
17
Q
When did the aristocrats plot to murder Rasputin?
A
December 1916
18
Q
When did the strike at the Putilov steel factory begin?
By day 4, how many were protesting?
What happened on the 5th day which grew the protests further?
A
- 18th Feb 1917
- 100,000 (Feb 22nd)
- women joined for international women’s day (Feb 23rd)
19
Q
On what day had the Putilov strikes crippled Petrograd?
How did the Tsar respond?
A
- 25th February 1917
- dissolved the Duma (27th Feb)
20
Q
How did the February Revolution manifest itself? (Broadly) (3)
not causes - actions that immediately caused it
A
- the Putilov strikes - crippled Petrograd to the point the Tsar couldn’t return (28th Feb - train stopped)
- Tsar abdicates (2nd March 1917) - advised by generals
- New Provisional Govt formed (3rd March 1917)
21
Q
Why was the Prov govt immediately unstable? (4)
A
- Many different parties - causing decision making to be slow & difficult
- struggled to meet needs - therefore weren’t supported by the working and middle-lower classes
- granted political amnesty - freed opponents like Lenin
- order no. 1 & dual authority
22
Q
What was the most powerful soviet in 1917?
Why were they so powerful?
When did it emerge?
A
- The Petrograd soviet
- they controlled some public services, the people’s milita (police replacement) and the city’s military garrison - instead of the prov govt
- Feb 1917
23
Q
When was order no.1 issued and what was it?
What part of it weakened the authority of the Prov Govt? And why?
A
- March 1st 1917 - a list of rules for military personnel issued by Soviets
- article 4 - soviet orders were more important than govt ones when there was a conflict of interest
- as a result - Soviets had greater control over the military
24
Q
What change occurred in Soviets during summer 1917?
Why?
A
- influence shifted from moderates (Mensheviks) to more hardliners (Bolsheviks)
- the Prov govt didn’t leave WWI - Bolsheviks supported exit, as did most members of the public
25
What **5 key errors** did the **prov govt** make?
- **agreeing** to **Dual Authority** with Soviets
- **promising reforms** it *couldn’t deliver* (e.g. land reform)
- **waiting** until constituent assembly **elections** to **implement reforms**
- **keeping Russia** in **WWI**
- the **Kornilov affair** - strengthened the Bolsheviks and gave them momentum
26
**Why** did the **Prov Govt** *keep Russia in WW1*?
Purely for **pragmatic** reasons:
- Russia **relied** on **allied supplies** and **financial aid**
- by leaving the War, they **risked bankruptcy**
27
**When** was the **June offensive**?
**What** was it?
- June 1917
- a final frantic **attempt** to achieve a **military breakthrough** in WWI - *under Prov Govt*
28
**Why** and **how** did **Lenin return** to Russia (1917)
- heard of **tsars abdication**
- **feared bolsheviks** *without his leadership* **would compromise** with other socialists and even the government
- *Germany helped him return* to Russia to **destabilize** and **force** them to **leave war**
29
**Who** was *politically* in charge of the **June Offensive**?
Alexander Kerensky - war minister
30
After **how long** did it appear clear the **June Offensive** had **failed**?
What **effect** did this have on the **army**?
- **3 weeks** in
- **will** was **lost** - deserters increased and regiments mutinied
31
What was *said* **after Lenin returned**
- **16th April 1917** - Finland Station Petrograd, **Lenin**: ‘**No support** must be given to the **provisional government**’
- (separately) **Kerensky**: ‘just you wait, Lenin himself is coming then the real thing begins!’
32
**What** was the **April theses** and what did it **result** in? (**3**)
| (for the Bolsheviks)
1. **10 directives** - used as a form of **propaganda/manifesto**
2.
- **attacked** ‘*imperialist* **war**’,
- advocated **overthrowing government**,
- *transfer* “all **power** to the **soviets**”
3. It gave the party **clear political objectives** and *slogan* “**Peace, Bread and Land**”
33
**Why** did the **Bolsheviks** use **propaganda**
and
What was the **results** of their use?
- used it to **exploit government shortcomings** and **mistakes**
- **increased support**: by **October 1917** had **more than 300,000 members** mainly in cities
34
**How many** Russian **soldier casualties** resulted from the **June Offensive**?
What did this **cause**?
- **60,000**
- further **political unrest** and opposition to the war
35
What was **Kerensky’s response** to **Lenin’s return**? (**3**)
- quickly **blamed July days** on Lenin calling him ‘*the German agent*’
- **Bolsheviks publicly condemned** and **weakened** significantly
- however after **Kornilov affair** Kerensky *leaned on Bolsheviks*
36
What **broad factors** led to the **July Days protests**? (**3**)
- **problems** at home **worsened** (e.g. *food shortages*)
- **economic issues** persisted
- people grew **dissatisfied** with **govt conduct**, particularly around the **war**
37
**Results** of **Kerensky** *leaning on* **Bolsheviks** (**3**)
- **Petrograd Soviet** *mobilized*, **Bolsheviks released** from prison, **red guards armed**
- after *Kornilov defeat* **Bolsheviks used it** as **propaganda**
- some argue Kerensky **gave Lenin momentum**
38
**How** did **Lenin take advantage** of *peasants’ land seizures*? (**2**)
- changed tactics - slogan “**Land to the Peasants**”
- **promised them land** that they seized **gaining their support**
39
**How** did the **July Days protests** unfold? (**5**)
- **Soviets spread** across Russia
- sailors, soldiers and laborers at **Kronstadt naval base** (*Petrograd*) set up a **rival govt**
- **workers** took over **factories**
- **peasants siezed land** by force from landlords
- protests in **Petrograd against** the idea of **Ukrainian independence**
40
Over which **days** did the ‘**July Days**’ protests occur?
**Why** were they **quickly quashed**?
- **3rd** to **7th** July 1917
- they were unplanned, unorganised and had unclear aims - **lack of leadership**
41
**Who** did the *Prov Govt* **blame** for the ‘**July Days**’ protests?
What was their **basis**?
- The Bolsheviks
- **Lenin** declared in **June 1917** - *he and his supporters* **ready** to **take power**
42
What was the **key success** and **key failure** of the ‘**July Days**’ protests for the Bolsheviks
- Bolsheviks **didn’t gain power** and were **held** in a **lower regard**
- however, they **learned lessons** which *assisted the October Revolution*
43
Who was **General Lavr Kornilov**?
- **commander** in charge of the **June Offensive**
- became **commander-in-chief** (*July 19th 1917*)
44
Outline the events of the **Kornilov Affair** (**3**)
- *Kornilov - sends troops to Petrograd* to **deal with Bolsheviks** and restore ‘**law and order**’
- **Kerensky** *feared a **coup*** - perhaps to bring back *Romanov rule*
- Kerensky turns to Bolsheviks: **arms Red Guards** and **Bolshevik prisoners**, whom he **set free**
45
Who was the **PM** of the **prov govt** during the **October Revolution**?
Alexander Kerensky
46
What was the **effect** of the **Kornilov affair** on the **military**?
- **Kornilov** (commander-in-chief) **arrested**
- Kerensky’s **apparent betrayal** caused **deserters** to **grow** in number
47
**Why** was the **Kornilov affair** so **damaging** for the *Prov Govt*? (**3**)
- **Bolsheviks**, *govt’s main political rivals*, were made **stronger** - both **weapons and influence**
- **well armed** while the **army was weakened** - deserters and WWI
- many in the army felt *betrayed and alienated* - weakened chance of defence against a coup
48
*Who* were the **only party** to **oppose WWI** in **1914**?
**Why** was this *important*?
- The Bolsheviks
- it gave them some **political leverage** when the war went wrong
49
Give **membership figures** which demonstrate the **growth of the Bolsheviks**. (**3**)
**Where** were the majority of their **supporters** from?
1.
- **March 1917** - **11,000** members
- **June 1917** - *just under* **200,000** members
- **October 1917** - *more than* **300,000** members
2. Cities like Petrograd and Moscow
50
**When** were the **Military Revolutionary Committee** (MRC) formed?
By whom?
What were their aims?
- **Sept 12th 1917**
- Leon Trotsky
- Defend the capital against another Kornilov style attack or against German forces
51
**When** was the *SDLP meeting* in which **Lenin** demanded a **coup**?
October 10th 1917
52
**When** was **Trotsky’s operation** in which the *prov govt* was *overthrown*?
What happened?
How long did it take to overthrow the govt?
- **25th October** 1917
- Petrograd’s essential services (i.e. energy, transport) shut down. Prov govt lack control
- 36 hours
53
Who was Rodzianko?
*Why* was his **stance important**?
- a *former loyalist to the tsar*, chairman of the Duma and a *key leader* of the **Progressive bloc**
- once he lost faith in the Tsar, many other politicians followed suit
54
Who was Milyukov?
What was the *famous line* from his famous speech in the Duma?
- a Kadet who later became a key leader in the Progressive Bloc
- “*is this stupidity or is it treason?* ” (ref. to how Russia could not make a military breakthrough)
